I need to see more games with Brodz on the PP to hate the move. He was actually fairly decent last year there. I think he's looked okay on the PP this year, maybe just because he plays it like 5-on-5 instead of playing hot potato with the puck like everyone else.
Granted Zucker should be on the PP now, but we're stuck with a bunch of passers and not enough shooters. Brodziak at least isn't another passer.
Would be nice to have 1-2 guys who can absolutely bomb a puck from the point.
How is Spurgeon looking? Is he getting PP time again? He was awesome in the WHL...hope he does well.
He is and has a couple goals to show for it. Everyone ripped him to shreds for missing a one-timer low one game, next game he buries one in tight, same thing last game. He's got a good one-timer that has been used on the PP the last 3-4 games and has been crashing the net more than anyone not named Zach Parise, which is embarrassing for the Wild.
Parise pound for pound is the best player on our team and it's not even questionable.
Coyle-Koivu-Parise
Gilbert-Suter
Zucker-Granlund-Heatley
Setoguchi-Brodin
Should be the PP combos, get Brodziak off the ******** PP, terrible choice when you have Coyle and Zucker on this team. Come on Yeo, only legit criticism of Yeo is his PP handling right now, it's terrible.
I know Coyle scored, but I have not been a big fan of him on the top line. I LOVE what he brings from a physical standpoint, the boards, the net, everywhere. But he's just not developed yet offensively and it feels like he's holding that line back.
Also, and TAK will love this, I haven't seen as much out of Parise offensively since his fast start. He's had a couple nice games lately, but the whole month of February he had five points. Six goals since the first five games. I'd like to see more from him.
Look at what happened to Parise's shots on goal before and after Coyle came back:
Before: 4.6 shots per game
After: 2.9 shots per game
Big drop in shots = big drop in scoring chances = less potential for scoring
I think Butch with two workers makes him less of a liability and his puck possession skills and hopefully if it's coming around his playmaking can create more opportunities for his linemates. I want to see Zucker back up on that second line where he can get scoring chances.
I know Coyle scored, but I have not been a big fan of him on the top line. I LOVE what he brings from a physical standpoint, the boards, the net, everywhere. But he's just not developed yet offensively and it feels like he's holding that line back.
Also, and TAK will love this, I haven't seen as much out of Parise offensively since his fast start. He's had a couple nice games lately, but the whole month of February he had five points. Six goals since the first five games. I'd like to see more from him.
Look at what happened to Parise's shots on goal before and after Coyle came back:
Before: 4.6 shots per game
After: 2.9 shots per game
Big drop in shots = big drop in scoring chances = less potential for scoring
I think Butch with two workers makes him less of a liability and his puck possession skills and hopefully if it's coming around his playmaking can create more opportunities for his linemates. I want to see Zucker back up on that second line where he can get scoring chances.
I completely agree that these lines could do better than what we currently have.
It is cool to see Coyle, but I agree he is not ready for that top line duty. He doesn't mean to, and he works his butt off pretty well, which I appreciate, but he does drag that line down. They have not been effective at all with him on it, and that line really needs to be.
I agree with Jarick's lines. While Coyle hasn't been a liability, he still isn't producing enough in the 1st line. Let him improve in Houston for a bit longer, and he'll return better than he is now.
I've been out of the loop for the last couple weeks. What is the current alignment of lines and pairings deployed by Coach Yeo? (It's obviously working.)
i don't like the idea of rocking the boat right now while everything is rolling...I've agreed all along that Coyle isn't a first liner or the best fit right now up there, but no one else has been, either, and while some guys might be more productive on the top line the ripple effect on the other lines by replacing them is probably not worth it. Just figuring out Yeo's mindset here. Or opining on it. I wouldn't mind trying Bouchard up there because he's the only other guy with skill who we haven't tried, but probably not right now. maybe in a game where we are getting severely beat down flex him up there to see if anything looks good. Or i guess a game where we're ahead by quite a bit, too...assuming we don't take our feet of the pedal to protect the lead. I want to see how he does when the focus is on scoring.
I've been out of the loop for the last couple weeks. What is the current alignment of lines and pairings deployed by Coach Yeo? (It's obviously working.)
I'm thinking of picking him up in my fantasy pool before the deadline via trade.
He's maybe on pace for 40-45 points in an 82 game season? After an insanely hot start. So not very good.
Pretty much done IMO. Can't skate, has maybe one good game every 5-10 games, he's been on the third line for a while.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rynryn
i don't like the idea of rocking the boat right now while everything is rolling...I've agreed all along that Coyle isn't a first liner or the best fit right now up there, but no one else has been, either, and while some guys might be more productive on the top line the ripple effect on the other lines by replacing them is probably not worth it. Just figuring out Yeo's mindset here. Or opining on it. I wouldn't mind trying Bouchard up there because he's the only other guy with skill who we haven't tried, but probably not right now.
Disagree.
IMO if you are afraid to tinker with the lines or roster when you're having a bit of success, that shows you don't understand what is or is not working and why.
For example, the PP looks awful, but they've had some goals. In spite of over-passing, Koivu passing up shots, and Brodziak doing almost nothing on the PP.
Like last night, you had Koivu and Butch playing catch with the puck, neither a threat to score, and Stoner is out there as the PP is about to expire, just shoots it on net, it bounces off Coyle out front and off two guys and in. From the stat sheet, you think "oh, two big time playmakers set up a beauty play and Coyle finished it off." Well it looked like a cluster**** and waste of a PP up to that point. But that guarantees they won't make any changes for the next week.
When you look at the last few games, Wild scored on 15% of their shots. That's pretty high. Opposition has had 8% of their shots go in. A hair low. Says they've had some bounces go their way. They've been playing better, but still had some luck.
